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When Fei Qian finally met the Magistrate of Hangu Pass, he discovered after their initial pleasantries that the magistrate was not related to Zheng Xuan's Gaomi Zheng clan but instead belonged to the Xingyang Zheng clan.
Speaking of which, the Gaomi Zheng and Xingyang Zheng clans shared some peculiar similarities.
The ancestor of the Gaomi Zheng clan was Zheng Guo—not the name of a state, but a person, said to be one of Confucius' seventy-two disciples. Thus, it was no exaggeration to say that the Gaomi Zheng clan had a scholarly heritage passed down through generations.
The ancestor of the Xingyang Zheng clan was also named Zheng Guo, but this referred to the state of Zheng, enfeoffed during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou. After the state was destroyed, its descendants retained Zheng as their surname.
As for the size of the two Zheng clans, the Xingyang Zheng clan was relatively larger.
The Magistrate of Hangu Pass was a member of the Xingyang Zheng clan—Zheng Jie, courtesy name Zirong. Upon meeting Fei Qian, he appeared exceedingly delighted and insisted on hosting a banquet in his honor, even sending someone to invite Commandant Guo Pu to join them.
Fei Qian found it difficult to decline such enthusiasm and, unable to refuse, acquiesced. He took his seat alongside Zheng Jie, while Huang Cheng, who had accompanied Fei Qian, was led by the Zheng family's servants to a separate table set up in the rear hall.
Once seated, the Zheng family's servants bustled about, presenting beverages and dried fruits as pre-meal snacks.
Zheng Jie gestured toward a bowl of thick soup in front of him and said with a smile, "Minister Fei, please try this. It is maza soup, a specialty passed down from Yong Province, with a unique flavor."
Fei Qian lowered his gaze to the bowl of murky, slightly sour broth before him. Floating within were beans of varying sizes, along with what appeared to be wheat kernels, sorghum, millet, rice, and other grains. A scattering of sesame seeds dotted the surface. In terms of ingredients, it was quite rich—sesame alone was considered a rarity, something ordinary people could scarcely obtain.
Fei Qian lifted the bowl with his sleeve partially covering it and took a sip.
It was cold.
A faint sourness lingered on his tongue, likely from fermentation, accompanied by a hint of sweetness and the aroma of alcohol. Soon after, the fragrance of grains filled his mouth. Though the beans and grains appeared whole, they had actually been stewed to the point of disintegration, softening on the tongue without needing to be chewed.
Truly a natural beverage.
Fei Qian nodded in approval. "Refreshing and thirst-quenching, with a rich grain aroma—truly a fine delicacy."
Zheng Jie chuckled, stroking his beard. Clearly pleased by Fei Qian's praise, he raised his bowl again in invitation.
Just as Zheng Jie took a sip and was about to speak, a rough voice boomed from outside the hall. "Hahaha! Magistrate Zheng, it's rare for you to invite a coarse fellow like me. What's the occasion today?"
Zheng Jie nearly choked. With a bitter smile, he cupped his hands toward Fei Qian and whispered, "That's Commandant Guo Pu. He… has no courtesy name."
A moment later, a man strode into the hall—short and stocky, wearing neither armor nor an inner robe. It seemed he had simply thrown a military coat over his undergarments and draped a cloak over his shoulders before arriving.
Only upon drawing closer did Guo Pu notice Fei Qian. He froze momentarily.
Zheng Jie quickly interjected, "Come, Commandant Guo, allow me to introduce you. This is Fei Qian, courtesy name Ziyuan, a disciple of Court Counselor Cai Yong and Left Aide to the Imperial Secretariat, hailing from the Luo region." Then, turning to Fei Qian, he added, "This is Commandant Guo Pu, younger brother of General Guo Si…"
Fei Qian promptly exchanged greetings with Guo Pu.
Guo Pu stammered, "Minister Fei, so young and accomplished… long admired, long admired…" before trailing off, at a loss for words.
Fei Qian smiled. The man before him was clearly an unrefined fellow with little education, so he paid it no mind. "Commandant Guo, please make yourself at ease."
Guo Pu visibly relaxed and laughed. "Exactly! I never studied the classics—forcing me to speak formally is torture! Many thanks, Minister Fei!"
Zheng Jie's cheerful expression remained unchanged. Once the introductions were complete, he invited both men to take their seats.
As soon as Guo Pu sat down, his eyes lit up at the sight of the maza soup. With an exclamation of delight, he grabbed the bowl and downed it in one gulp. Smacking his lips, he exhaled loudly and declared, "Refreshing!" Then, turning to Zheng Jie, he said, "Magistrate Zheng, why haven't you brought this out sooner? Ah, it's been ages since I've tasted something from home…"
Zheng Jie replied unhurriedly, "We only recently acquired this. If Commandant Guo enjoys it, please indulge freely."
"Excellent!" Without ceremony, Guo Pu gestured for a servant to refill his bowl. He drained two more bowls in quick succession before finally settling back, satisfied.
Guo Pu… younger brother of General Guo Si?
As Fei Qian watched Guo Pu enjoy the soup, his mind turned to the situation at hand. If Dong Zhuo was to return west to Chang'an, he would inevitably pass through Hangu Pass. It made sense that he wouldn't station someone from the eastern gentry factions here, hence the appointment of Guo Si's brother.
Fei Qian took another sip of the soup, discreetly observing Zheng Jie over the rim of his bowl. The magistrate sat with his head slightly lowered, eyes fixed on the tip of his nose, his lips still curved in that unchanging smile…
A strange feeling suddenly arose in Fei Qian's heart.
Something's off here.
First, Zheng Jie had warmly invited him, then summoned Guo Pu to join the banquet. On the surface, everything seemed normal—but Guo Pu's obvious surprise upon seeing him suggested that Zheng Jie had either been vague in his invitation or Guo Pu hadn't paid attention.
Hangu Pass was a military stronghold first and foremost, making Guo Pu's role as commandant far more critical than Zheng Jie's civil position. Given that Zheng Jie was from a scholarly family, how could he have failed to clearly explain the purpose of the gathering or the identity of the guest?
Unless it wasn't an oversight.
Now that all were seated, the banquet officially commenced. Soon, servants streamed in, bearing roasted lamb ribs, soups, and assorted fruits and vegetables.
Zheng Jie raised his wine cup in toast. Both Fei Qian and Zheng Jie drank moderately, but Guo Pu drained his in one go, then immediately seized a lamb rib and began gnawing without waiting for further ceremony.
In contrast, Fei Qian and Zheng Jie ate with the refinement expected of the gentry—using small silver knives to slice meat from the ribs before eating.
Knives and forks weren't invented by the West, Fei Qian mused. They've been used in Han feasts for ages.
Fei Qian raised his cup toward Zheng Jie and asked casually, "How long have you served as magistrate here?"
Zheng Jie took a sip before replying, "This unworthy one has held the post for four years."
Four years?
That meant Zheng Jie was a local power here, while Guo Pu…
Fei Qian turned to Guo Pu with another toast and remarked offhandedly, "Commandant Guo, were you previously stationed at Hangu Pass?"
Guo Pu paused mid-bite, chewed, and swallowed before answering, "Nah. I was in Guanzhong before this. Just got assigned to this gods-forsaken place not long ago."
Gods-forsaken…
Putting aside the crude phrasing, the situation was becoming increasingly peculiar.